Solar panels save NHS clinic over £60,000 a year

NHS Property Services (NHSPS) have installed a solar PV array on the south-facing roof elevation at Health House in Hull, which is set to generate more than 300MWh of renewable energy, saving the NHS over £60,000 in electricity costs.

The array has a warrantied operational lifespan of 20 years and includes a 41 monocrystalline solar panels, a monitoring platform and a high-performance inverter. NHSPS also installed a live generation data display from the solar array in the clinic’s reception, which is aimed to help “increase awareness and visibility around energy consumption.”

“The project from inception to completion worked seamlessly and the collaboration between all parties who were of the same mindset worked well toward successful completion. The scheme has helped us progress on our ‘green journey’ in the building both now and in the years to come. It has also provided a specification for other buildings across the country to follow’’ said Elaine Hall, minor works manager at the NHSPS.

In response to the project, the NHSPS have identified a further 45 NHSPS sites that could benefit from a solar system installation.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals have pledged to reach net zero by 2030 – a decade earlier than the rest of the NHS.

Projects within this transition so far have included the £4.5 million “Field of Dreams” which consists of 11,000 solar panels that, according to the trust, are already generating sufficient energy to meet daytime running needs at Castle Hill Hospital.

Elsewhere, other trusts are also working to decarbonise the wider NHS. Veolia UK & Ireland was recently awarded a £27 million energy management contract, which included installing a 1.1MWp solar system at Eastbourne Hospital for example.